In-vitro susceptibility of cefiderocol and other comparators in carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli: A study from India.

Introduction: Cefiderocol is a parenteral catechol-type siderophore cephalosporin, which has been approved for the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections. Its activity among the carbapenem-resistant gram negative bacilli (CR-GNBs) in India is largely unknown.

Methodology: We tested in-vitro susceptibility of cefiderocol in 84 CR-GNB [ carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) , carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP)] by broth microdilution(BMD) and disc diffusion (DD) using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints and concordance of DD was compared with BMD.

Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Bacterial Pathogens in Patients With Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in India Using a Flow Chip Assay.

Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) play a crucial role in human morbidity and mortality, as ticks are highly effective in spreading diseases by transmitting harmful pathogens to humans and animals. The last few decades have seen an increase in the number of recognized tick-borne pathogens and the incidence of TBD worldwide. Several of these diseases are ubiquitous in India.

Recurrent pyogenic brain abscess in immunocompetent patient by Bacteroides fragilis: A silent cause of concern.

Anaerobic bacteria are rare but important cause of otogenic brain abscess. Improved patient management techniques and early clinical and laboratory diagnosis of otogenic infections are necessary to reduce the risk of intracranial complications. Here we present a case of recurrent pyogenic brain abscess caused by Bacteroides fragilis secondary to otitis media.

Isolation and detection of bacterial species on mitis salivarius bacitracin agar from the plaque samples of caries active children.

Background: In cariology studies, mitis-salivarius-bacitracin (MSB) agar has been commonly considered as the selective medium for Streptococcusmutans growth. The present study was the part of a funded project (a noninferiority randomized controlled trial) which compared the efficacy of a plant extract-based mouth rinse with that of a fluoride mouth rinse on the S.mutans counts of the children.

Breakthrough infection among healthcare personnel following exposure to COVID-19: Experience after one year of the world's largest vaccination drive.

Context: The COVID-19 vaccination drive globally was supposedly a game-changing event. However, the emerging variants of the virus and waning immunity over time posed new challenges for breakthrough infections. Standing at the frontline of defense against COVID-19, healthcare personnel (HCP) were vulnerable to such infections.

Relevance of Conventional Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Mucormycosis during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Mucormycosis is a lethal disease which bewildered the health-care community of India during the ongoing second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The diagnosis is challenging considering the poor isolation in culture.

Aims: The aim of the study was to emphasize the utility of potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount examination using conventional light microscopy for early diagnosis of mucormycosis in resource-limited settings.

Serological profile of patients suspected with non-scrub typhus rickettsioses.

Background: Rickettsial pathogens are Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria. They are transmitted by arthropods and are responsible for a wide variety of disease, from minor to life-threatening, which have a global effect on human health. Limited data are available on the prevalence of rickettsial diseases from India, and the disease epidemiology is not fully described.

Case report of SARS-CoV-2 with secondary Clostridioides difficile infection.

There has been an overuse of antibiotics in most patients suffering from COVID-19 which predisposes patients to hospital acquired C. difficile Infection (CDI). Also, COVID infection of the gastrointestinal tract also predisposes the patient to CDI.

Bacteriophages as therapeutic & disinfectant agents to tackle multidrug-resistant .

Background & Objectives: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is a serious threat for human health worldwide. The studies on agents targeting A. baumannii are imperative due to identified A.

Phylogeny and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during Delta and Omicron variant waves in India.

SARS-CoV-2 evolution has continued to generate variants, responsible for new pandemic waves locally and globally. Varying disease presentation and severity has been ascribed to inherent variant characteristics and vaccine immunity. This study analyzed genomic data from 305 whole genome sequences from SARS-CoV-2 patients before and through the third wave in India.

A pattern of microbiological colonization of orthodontic miniscrew implants.

Introduction: Current orthodontic literature reveals a lack of studies on bacterial colonization of orthodontic miniscrew implants (MSI) and their role in the stability of MSI. This study aimed to determine the pattern of microbiological colonization of miniscrew implants in 2 major age groups, to compare it with the microbial flora of gingival sulci in the same group of patients and to compare microbial flora in successful and failed miniscrews.

Methods: The study involved 102 MSI placed in 32 orthodontic subjects in 2 age groups: (1) aged ≤14 years and (2) aged >14 years.

Low prevalence of Clostridioides difficile infection in acute severe ulcerative colitis: A retrospective cohort study from northern India.

Background: The incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is high in ulcerative colitis and is associated with disease flares and adverse outcomes. However, the data on the dynamics of CDI in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is rather scarce. We evaluated the prevalence of CDI in patients with ASUC.

Tick-tock, beat the clock: comparative analysis of disc diffusion testing with 6-, 10-, and 24-h growth for accelerated antimicrobial susceptibility testing and antimicrobial stewardship.

Disc diffusion testing by Kirby-Bauer technique is the most used method for determining antimicrobial susceptibility in microbiological laboratories. The current guidelines by The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) 2022 specify using an 18- to 24-h growth for testing by disc diffusion. We aim to determine if using an early growth (6 h and 10 h) would produce comparable results, thus ultimately leading to reduced turnaround time.

Aerobic and anerobic contamination of mobile phones of health personnels with probable transfer of bacterial microbes to their hands at a tertiary care hospital of India.

Background And Aims: Mobile phone (MP) contamination of health personnels (HPs) in hospitals is a potential health hazard to the patients and the HP themselves. However, transfer of microbes from MPs of HP to their hands has not been demonstrated before, which would make potential threat into an actual peril. The primary objective was to determine aerobic and anerobic bacterial contamination of MP and hands of HP.

Role of a probiotic strain in the modulation of gut microbiota and cytokines in inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: To assess the effect of a probiotic strain Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 on gut microbiota and cytokines in IBD patients.

Method: Patients were randomly allocated to either placebo or probiotic Bacillus clausii UBBC-07 for four weeks along with the standard medical treatment (SMT). Enrolled patients were evaluated before and after intervention for presence of the given probiotic, change in gut microbiota, change in serum cytokines, serotonin and dopamine, symptoms of disease, physical, behavioral and psychological parameters.

Comparative Analysis of Clinical and Genomic Characteristics of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae from Hospital and Community Settings: Experience from a Tertiary Healthcare Center in India.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a hypermucoviscous phenotype of classical Klebsiella pneumoniae (cKp) that causes serious infections in the community. The recent emergence of multidrug-resistant hvKp isolates (producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases) along with other virulence factors in health care settings has become a clinical crisis. Here, we aimed to compare the distribution of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in relation to various sequence types (STs) among the clinical hvKp isolates from both settings, to reinforce our understanding of their epidemiology and pathogenic potential.

A rare case of complicated pancreatitis due to leptospirosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken to combat it have greatly impacted the health infrastructure of all nations. Here we present a rare case of leptospirosis with severe acute pancreatitis, bilateral peripheral gangrene, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and multiorgan failure. This is a rare presentation of leptospirosis wherein the patient had no history suggestive of acquisition of leptospires.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae among Hospitalized Patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in an Indian Tertiary Care Hospital: an Underreported Health Problem.

The epidemiology of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is poorly understood in India. The present study was conducted to identify the prevalence of Mp in a large set of patients with acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) in an Indian tertiary hospital. During 2015-2020, we tested throat swab specimens from patients with the clinical diagnosis of ARI ( = 1,098) by a real-time PCR and compared the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data of Mp-positive and Mp-negative patients.

Challenges in setting up a diagnostic microbiology laboratory during coronavirus disease 2019 crisis and impact on the diagnosis of communicable diseases.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has left the health-care workers exhausted and the system dwindling. The challenges have been immense everywhere and even worse in developing countries. Despite the Indian Government's forethought and active investment in various national programs, the pandemic has brought unconceivable repercussions on the management and notification of several other lethal infectious diseases including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis.